MOBILE HOMES: Trinity to consider ordinance revisions. 1B ALL ABOARD: Rail projects will give boost to Guilford, Davidson. 1B
AP
Local Olympian High Point Central graduate Heather Richardson competes in the 500 meters at the Vancouver Winter Olympics on Tuesday. Richardson finished sixth, missing out on a bronze medal by a little more than a half-second. See story on 1D.
TRINITY – The Trinity City Council on Tuesday night sided with truck drivers, putting in a system that will allow current residents who have tractor-trailers to park on their own property. During its monthly meeting, which was standingroom only, the City Council voted 6-2 to allow truck drivers who own land in Trinity to get a permit from the city that will enable them to park their tractor-trailers on their own property. Under the approved system, truck drivers will have 30 days to get the permit from the city. After 30 days, permits will not be issued and truck drivers who don’t have one will not be able to park on their own land in Trinity. The goal of the sys-
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Trinity Council sides with truckers on parking tem is to eventually phase out tractor-trailers after the ownership of property changes hands. Despite truck drivers still being allowed to park on their property, tractor-trailers will still not be able to park on streets and right-of-ways, said Joe Rainey, the city’s code enforcement officer. Councilman Kelly Grooms made the motion to approve the system, which was seconded by Councilwoman Kristen Varner. Council members Karen Bridges and Tyler Earnst voted against the system. The City Council made the decision after holding a public hearing, which had several to speak for and against a trucking ordinance. On one side, the neighbors of truckers said tractor-trailers were a nuisance. Truckers, mean-
February 17, 2010
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BY DARRICK IGNASIAK ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER
WEDNESDAY
while, said they wanted to protect their livelihood, saying that having to park their tractor-trailers in other areas besides their homes causes the chance of trucks being burglarized. The City Council decided to nix proposals that were introduced at its retreat last month. City staff had introduced amendments to the trucking ordinance – which was initially approved in August – that would have prohibited trucks and trailers from being parked in certain zoning districts depending on what type of street frontage they were parked in. An additional proposal would have allowed truck drivers to get reclassified, enabling them to park on their own property if they met a certain criteria. dignasiak@hpe.com | 888-3657
CONDEMNED
WHO’S NEWS
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Dr. Stephen I. Kramer, professor of psychiatry and behavioral medicine at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, will be inducted into the American College of Psychiatrists.
INSIDE
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LIVING POOR: Annual poverty simulation set this week. 1B OBITUARIES
---- M. Armstrong, 81 Scott Bedwell, 23 Peter Ching, 49 Richard Compton, 40 Richard Cox, 72 William Eldreth, 77 O.J. Freund, 88 Daisy Gibson, 88 Nancy Gilchrist, 75 Jerry Haynes, 68 Maria Lindsay, 94 Lola Marsh, 92 Anna McKinney, 92 Flynn Michael, 85 Luther Owen, 85 Donald Pressley, 73 K. Robinson, infant Jacqueline Titus, 53 G. Washington, 78 Randall White, 64 Obituaries, 2A, 2-3B
City plans to bulldoze 4 houses BY PAT KIMBROUGH ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER
HIGH POINT – The City Council took action this week to address blighted properties. Ordinances were adopted to demolish four houses that have been deemed substandard based on numerous code violations. An additional dwelling was ordered to be vacated and closed. The council will address the issue in more depth after city officials provide an updated list of potentially substandard properties on which the city has been keeping tabs. “We’re getting pressure from constituents who want to know what’s being done with the house next to them. Several properties have been on our list a lot longer than these five,” said Councilwoman Bernita Sims. “I don’t quite know what to tell people about some of these older proper-
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Clear, cool High 43, Low 24 6D
INDEX SONNY HEDGECOCK | HPE
HOUSES, 2A
House at 1807 Johnson Street is one of four scheduled to be demolished.
Commissioners reach out to towns BY DAVID NIVENS ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER
GUILFORD COUNTY – Another water main. More sewer line branches. Secure funding for libraries. The problems may sound the same for the small towns in Guilford County, but Guilford County Board of Commissioners Chairman Skip Alston offered a different way Tuesday to reach solutions during a gathering of public officials from across the county. Alston said commissioners will be listening more closely to the concerns of town residents. Each commissioner will be an “ambassador” for the towns in each of the county’s nine commissioners’ districts. The board also has two at-large members. Commissioners also may spon-
TOWNS
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These towns get a share of the $64 million in annual sales tax collections in Guilford County – Gibsonville, Jamestown, Oak Ridge, Pleasant Garden, Sedalia, Stokesdale, Summerfield and Whitsett.
sor “town hall” meetings to collect the concerns of residents, he said. Alston took advantage of an ethics training session for public officials to arrange the session with town officials at the County Agricultural Center. Oak Ridge Mayor Ray Combs sent a message about expanded water service. “We need to discuss this to see if
it is a doable thing,” he said. In Pleasant Garden, poor draining soil does not support septic tanks well. A nail salon had to move out of town because the septic system could not handle the waste. Town officials want help with building a sewer line. Although the county does not build water or sewer lines, it does provide bond financing for infrastructure. Many suburban areas depend upon the cities of Greensboro and High Point to provide water and sewer. “You need to squeak louder about this,” Alston said. “There is a way to solve most problems.” “My concern is that no one from Greensboro is here to hear this,” said Democratic Commissioner Bruce Davis of High Point. Alston also alerted the town of-
ficials to the county’s budget planning. “We are trying to do more with less, and we know you may have a tight budget and may have to raise taxes,” Alston said. “We do not want to cut any services that may hurt you.” The county provides several services, including planning and building inspections, for the towns under contract. The county also supports libraries. County officials have boosted the proposed consolidation of county planning and inspections offices with those in Greensboro. “But that should have no impact on service delivery in the towns,” said Republican Commissioner Steve Arnold of High Point.
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